Chapter 53: Bringing Up Feelings Again

I stared coldly at Liu Zhuyin.

I had wanted to say these words for a very long time.

If she had remained consistent from beginning to end, I would have nothing to say. I would even admire her unwavering devotion to Ning Yuanzhou.

But now... it seemed she could no longer maintain that stance.

Then what were those five years?

She had treated him with boundless devotion, bearing no grievances or regrets, acting as though he were the only person in her heart for the rest of her life.

Toward me, she had always appeared indifferent and amiable, yet kept me at a thousand-miles distance. Using the so-called life-saving grace she constantly spoke of, she pampered him without any bottom line. Assuming I was her husband by default and needing no explanation, she had left me behind time and time again.

Were these the feelings she kept talking about?

When all was said and smothered, wasn't it just her own selfishness?

Talk of love? Talk of feelings growing over time? It was all utter bullshit!

It simply meant that Ning Yuanzhou loved her far less than I did. Or perhaps she had grown exhausted and weary of Ning Yuanzhou, which was why she finally remembered me. She remembered my service, and she remembered my meticulous attentiveness.

How was this any different from treating someone as a live-in housekeeper combined with a money-making tool?

Liu Zhuyin stared at me blankly, completely struck dumb by my words.

Naturally, this was not how she saw things in her heart. Yet hearing these words come out of my mouth, she could not find a single shred of argument to refute them.

"I... I didn't..."

She could only repeat those three words, but they sounded pale and powerless.

I had already made myself clear enough to her and had no desire to say anything more.

"Liu Zhuyin, leave."

"I really don't want to see you."

I turned away, refusing to look at her, yet I did not resort to pushing her out the door.

She stood behind me for a long, long time before finally taking steps away from my home.

The instant the door closed, I sat down on the sofa, feeling a bitter knot in my chest.

Two people who once loved each other had ended up in such a state.

Today, I had crushed her argument, standing high and mighty, exuding an imposing aura, but there was nothing to be proud of. Instead, I felt profoundly sorrowful.

If it were possible, I had hoped we could part ways on good terms.

Liu Zhuyin wept all the way into her car.

My words still echoed continuously in her mind. She had never considered these things before, but hearing me say them aloud and turning them over in her mind afterward made the pain even more bitter.

That's right.

What right did she have? What qualifications did she have to make choices?

Those five years of marriage had been torn into pieces step by step by her own hands.

Now that she was turning back, what was she greedily clinging to? Was it that share of love? Or was it the peace of mind I used to bring her?

She could not figure it out, but her heart was wrung with agonizing pain.

Upon returning home, she collapsed onto the bed, while her phone rang incessantly.

It was a call from Ning Yuanzhou.

Yet she... had no desire to answer it.

The next day, I received news from Bai Beichuan.

The person within the Ning family who held influence over the foreign-funded project was a departmental general manager. He had once received a favor from the elder of the Ning family, and his promise to let Ning Yuanzhou meddle in the project was purely out of a sense of repaying that gratitude.

"Repaying gratitude?"

"Then this matter... is negotiable."

There were many ways to repay a favor; it did not have to involve this specific project.

Besides, the current Ning Yuanzhou probably no longer had the composure to meddle in the project anyway. Knowing he could not secure the liver donor, he must be burning with anxiety.

That could be considered good news.

In the afternoon, Bai Beichuan and I went to visit that general manager.

"President Xu, we came here today to lay all our cards on the table."

"You only allowed Ning Yuanzhou to interfere in this project out of gratitude."

"However, as you should know, Ning Yuanzhou does not have the competence to take this on."

Bai Beichuan had a straightforward personality and beat around no bushes. His words forced Xu Sihai to let out a sigh.

"My young nephew, what you say is indeed true."

"I know very well what capabilities that boy Ning Yuanzhou possesses."

"But if I do not repay this debt of gratitude, what will outsiders think of me?"

Xu Sihai left room for negotiation, and his sighing demeanor made me smile.

"President Xu, what if Ning Yuanzhou gives it up of his own accord?"

"Would you wash your hands of the matter then?"

I could easily tell that he wanted to maintain his reputation while avoiding responsibility.

Xu Sihai was slightly stunned before breaking into a chuckle. "Gu Yichen, I have heard of you. Seeing you today, you truly are clever!"

"Very well, I will lay my bottom line out for you as well. As long as he no longer wants this project, I have nothing more to say."

Hearing this, I finally felt relieved.

My only fear was that he might be one of those stubbornly loyal types determined to secure the project for Ning Yuanzhou at all costs. If that were the case, things would have been troublesome!

"Alright, we will handle the rest."

"President Xu, just wait for our news."

Xu Sihai nodded. "Actually, the biggest problem is not that boy Ning Yuanzhou."

"The most important factor is the Liu family."

"Gu Yichen, Gu Yichen, you are the one who elevated the Liu family to this position, and now they hold substantial leverage."

"Even though you are no longer with the Liu family, the higher-ups still favor them greatly."

"Coupled with my obligation to repay this favor, people will simply turn a blind eye."

These words caused Bai Beichuan and me to exchange a glance, and we immediately smiled.

"Hahaha, President Xu, understood."

"We will definitely make you satisfied!"

Bai Beichuan acknowledged the agreement and pulled me away.

As soon as we got into the car, he eagerly spoke up.

"Did you hear that? The Liu family cannot be underestimated. The major projects you secured for them over the past few years have put them in the spotlight."

"Their production chain is complete, their management team is elite, and their bank accounts are flush with cash—their margin for error is extremely high!"

"Therefore, we must not only deal with Ning Yuanzhou, but also make the Liu family relent and cooperate with us!"

"Feeling the pressure now?"

I sighed, feeling slightly helpless.

It was naturally a good thing that the Liu family held leverage. The only trouble was that they were currently standing opposite me. Of course, I still had confidence in resolving the matter.

After parting ways with Bai Beichuan, I went to see Mrs. Liu.

Although Liu Zhuyin currently managed the Liu family, Mrs. Liu remained the supreme matriarch, and no one dared to disobey her words.

"Xiaochen, I know what you mean."

"You want Ah Yin to stop cooperating with Ning Yuanzhou and cooperate with you instead."

"I support you in securing this project, too."

"After all, you are doing this for me, for the Liu family, and for Ah Yin, aren't you?"

"However..."

Mrs. Liu blinked, her tone shifting abruptly.

"However? Mother, please speak your mind."

I frowned. Was this old lady going to play tricks on me again?

"However, many executives in the group know about the fallout between you and Ah Yin."

"They are afraid... afraid that one day you and Ah Yin might truly become completely estranged, or even turn into enemies."

"If that happens, won't there be major problems with this project?"

Mrs. Liu's words instantly depressed me.

No matter how the conversation twisted, why did it always circle back to our relationship?

"Xiaochen, let me be entirely honest with you."

"Actually, the internal factions within the group support Ah Yin cooperating with Ning Yuanzhou."

"As for why, you know without me saying it. Isn't it because that fellow Ning Yuanzhou has been putting on the act of becoming our Liu family's son-in-law?"

"When a husband and wife share the same mind, their combined strength can break metal. You understand that principle."

I was utterly speechless. "That's when brothers share the same mind, their combined strength can break metal."

Mrs. Liu waved her hand dismissively. "It's all the same!"

"So, if you want the Liu Group to support you, you at least need to... at least mend your relationship with Ah Yin a little."

"If you ease the tension, this project will definitely be yours! I can guarantee that!"

"And as for your two friends, we can cooperate with them as well, right?"